Crown block



July 9, 1935.

E. BURNS ET AL CROWN BLOCK I Filed Jan. 7, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l gemvrPMcmws/m/v 4M y 1935. E. BURNS ET AL 2,007,155

CROWN BLOCK Filed Jan. 7, 1955 2 Shets-Sheet 2 l 1 40 3 I 1' I 4 l hgsjmfl 460, I

I I 4 /v 37 2 2 a l 1 I 1 g f I 4ll Jpren/ars 0 O 46 36 I 36 fim/rBm/vs- .HQRk/PMMMMM /7 40 i Patented July 9.1935

.onowu BLOCK it Erwin Burns; Lbs-Angeles, andHarry P. Wicker} V sham, Huntington Park, Calif.

' Application January 1935, Serial No. 665 I 11" Claims. '(o1.; 254+190) V Thisv invention relates to crown blocks and relates more particularly to crown blocks for use on the: derricks of oil wells, gas wells, etc.

The crown blocks that are used on the derricks 1 ofoil wells and gas wells usually include, in ad.. dition' to theshaft and sheaves, a large number: of sections or parts such as mounting members,'

lfltend plates, spacers,.rods, etc.' Such sectional crown blocks. are large and cumbersomeand are very expensive to manufacture and assemble.

Another object of the invention is to provide a crown block that embodies a minimum number manufacture. r

Anothergobject of the invention is to .provide a crown block embodying a single integral or one ingaxle or shaft. Another objectiof theinvention is'to provide a crown block including an integral or unitary body having partitions or spacers formed thereon k V V tions of the end plates M andmay lie in the same Another object of the invention is to provide for spacing the sheaves.

1 a crown block of the character mentioned in which the integral spacers of the unitary body cooperatewith or. fit in grooves in the sheave support ing shaft to. reinforce and brace the structure; s Another objectof theinvention is toprovide a crown block that embodies a novell'and improved cover which shields and protects the upperportions of the" sheaves "and prevents the cables or lines from escaping from the sheaves;

1 .A further .object of the invention is to provide a crovsi'n' block. of the character mentioned in which the sheave protecting hood orcover retains theshaft in the be'arings of the body.

The variouaobjects and features of our-invention {will'be fully'undeistoo'd from the following away to illustrate one of the sides of the body in verticalcross section. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical.detailed'sectional view taken as indicated 5 by line 2"2 on Fig.1 and'lf ig; 3 is a horizontal detailed sectional'view taken substantially. as indicated by line 33 on Fig. 2.

"The improved-crown block of our invention in eludes,generallyyabody ll), an axle or shaft II F on the body .HL'sheaves 12, carried by the. shaft A generalobject of the invention is to provide a 5 compact, improved and simplified crown block.

of parts'and' that is simple and inexpensive of piece body structurecarrying the sheave support- '2 the ac- Land a hood or cover l3 on the body extending over the upper portions of the'sheaves.

The body -l0is adapted to be mounted or arranged on'the head or. water tower .of a well derrick. Theformation or construction of the body l0 'isan important feature of the invention, it beingparticularlysignificant that the body is a single, integral or one'piece member. In practice theinte'graltbody It may be formed of cast iron; -Thebody It comprises or includes two spaced endlplates I4 and two-spaced side walls or'sid'es IEJ'I'he' end platesl4 and the sides l5 are preferably vertical: and the end plates M are preferably normal'to or at rightangles to the sides 15. A-base web or bottom wall 16 extends horizontally between andintegrally joins the end plates M and'the sides I5 so that the body I!) is a box-like structurehaving an open upper end for the reception Iof the shaft H and the sheaves Mounting wings ll-lient'end' outwardly from the opposite endsof the end plates I 4. The wings l1 maybe-simplefintegral continuations or porvertic'alplanes as the :end plates The wings I! are adapted to mountor support the crown block body II] on the beams lor supports of the water tower "onthe upper end of thederrick; Outwardly or laterally' projecting flanges I 8 extend along the lower ends of the wings I! to rest on the supports of the derrick or water tower. The lower support engaging surfaces of the flanges l8 are preferably in a horizontal plane below the plane bf-the bottom wall It and other portionsof the body lflj The flanges l8 of the wings l'll provide asiinple effective means for securing the crown block iii-position; Theupper ends of the wings I! and the major portions of the upper 'eiidsof the end; plates I4- preferably slope upwardly and inwardly, as clearly illustrated in Fig. l' of the drawings; Outwardly projecting strengthening or reinforcing flanges l9 extend along the upper and lower" edges of the sides I5,"the.iupper andlower edges of the end plates Ill-and continue along the tops and opposite ends of 'thewings IT. Similar reinforcing ribs or flanges 20 may be provided on the outer surfaces of the end'plates where the end plates and wings 'lr'l join. The"en'd plates M, the wings I! tend between and space the several sheaves I2. The spacers are spaced vertically disposed parts and project upwardly from the bottom wall I6. The spacers 2| preferably extend between the opposite sides I5 and integrally join the sides and the bottom wall I6. In the particular form of the invention illustrated in the drawings there are four equally spaced partitions or spacers 2| dividing the interior of the body In into five like or equal compartments 22 for receiving a like number of sheaves I2. It is to be understood that the sides I5, the bottom wall I6, the end plates I4, the wings II, the flanges thereof, and the spacers 2|, are integrally joined or connected parts of a single one piece member or casting constituting the body HI of the crown block.

The sheave supporting axle or shaft II is car ried by the body I and is retained thereon by bearing cap parts of the unitary hood or cover I3 as will be hereinafter described. The shaft |I extends transversely or. horizontally across the. upper end of the body ll between the end plates I4 to support the plurality of sheaves I2.

Outwardly projecting bearing bosses. 23 are formed or provided on the upper ends ofthe' end plates l4. The bearing bosses 23 are provided with suitable substantially semi-circular openings or seats 24 for receiving the opposite Lend portions 25 of the shaft II. The present invention provides a plurality of. enlarged cylindrical bearing portions 26 on the shaft forsupporting the sheaves I2 for rotationin spaced vertical planes.

a plurality of longitudinally spaced annular grooves 21. The body partitions" or spacers 2| cooperate with or extend into. thegrooves 21 ofthe shaft II. Enlarged or thickened portions 28 are provided on the upper. ends of the spacers 2| to extend into the grooves 21. The opposite side. surfacesLOf the portions 26 are flat s: or: lines employed, in drilling and. operating the well... Agsheave I2. isr'independently rotatable on each, bearing-portion '26 of the shaft. II. Suitable anti-friction bearings. 3| rotatably support or mount the sheaves l2 on the bearingportions 26. The several: sheaves I2 may be alike'in-formation and of, the same efiectivediameter. as illustrated throughout the drawings. The. sheaves I2:fmay comprise thickened hubs 32, bodies or.

webs 33: and; rims 34.1 The rims 34 have grooves 33 fonreceivingiorcarrying" the-lines. The particular" sheaves illustrated in the drawings have outwardly flaring line carrying. grooves 33. Openings. 36. are provided in the: lower body wall I6 for freely passing the lines-that operate over the sheaves I2. The sheaves; I2 have suitable operating clearancegwith the body spacers 2| and the endv plates I4- The hood or cover I3 is arranged on the body ID; to. extend over and; shield the; sheaves I2. The cover I3 is removable. from bod! Ilto.

The bearing portions 26' of the' ,shaft II are spaced apart to provide or leave make the sheaves I2 accessible. In accordance with the invention the hood or cover I3 is a simple, integral member comprising a top or outer wall 36 and ends 31. The outer wall 36 of the cover is substantially cylindrically curved about the longitudinal axis of the shaft II to extend around or over the rims of the sheaves I2 with substantial clearance. The ends 31 extend downwardly from the outerwall 36 to the body I0. outwardly projecting flanges 33 extend along the lower ends of the outer wall 36 to seat on corresponding or opposing flanges 39 on the sides I of the body. Screws or bolts 40 may removably connect the flanges 38 with the flanges 39 to attach the cover I3 to the body. The cover I3 mounted on the body in this manner may be removed when desired. The ends 31 of the cover may extend downwardly to the inclined upper ends of the body end plates I4. If found desirable openings 4| may be provided inthe opposite ends 31 of the cover to lighten its weight.

In the preferred form of the invention the hood or cover I3 operates to retain the shaft II assembled on thebody ID. The ends 31 of the cover have outwardly projecting bearing caps 42. The bearing caps 42 are integral with the cover I3 and are complementary to or oppose the bearing bosses 23 of the body. Integral lugs or ears 43 are provided on the bearing caps 42 to seat on cars 44 of the bearing bosses 23. Bolts or screws 45 may connect the ears 43 and 44. The pairs of bearing bosses 23 and bearing caps 42 of the unitary body I!) and one piece cover I3 effectively and dependably retain or mount the sheave carrying shaft II. The top or outer wall of the cover I3 is provided on its inner side with fins or flanges 46. The flanges 46 project downwardly or inwardly and. are in vertical alignment with the spacers 2|. downwardly between the rims 34 of the sheaves I2'to positively prevent the escape of the lines from the sheaves and to prevent the lines from passing between or from becoming caught between the spaced adjacent sheaves.

It is believed that the utility and practicability" of the crown block of my invention will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description. The crown block embodies a minimum number of parts, comprising only three principal parts or units, namely the unitary body III, the assembly ofzthe shaft II and the sheaves I2, and the integral cover I3. The body I0 instead of being ported on the integral end plates I4 of the body and the. spacers 2| of the body in addition to spacing the sheaves I2 support and brace the assembly of the shaft and sheaves. The wi s! I! with their supporting flanges I8 constitute a single, practical means for mounting the crown block and. for facilitating its attachment to its mounts or supports. The hood or cover I3 fully shields the upper portions of the sheaves I2 and its ends 31 and flanges 46 prevent the lines from. escaping from the sheaves. The bearings caps 42 integrally formed on the cover I3 operate to retain the shaft II in the bearing openings 24. The simple one piece cover I3 may be easily detached from the body III to render the sheave:

and: lines accessible. The .crown block. of the; 78

present invention is particularly inexpensive of manufacture and is easily assembled. f

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of our invention, we do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific form and application herein set forth, but wish to reserve to ourselves any modifications or variations that'may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having describedour invention, we claim:

1. A crown block including an integral body, a shaft carried by the body, and a multiplicity of sheaves on the shaft, the body including spacers between the sheaves. r

2. A crown block including a body of boxform', a shaft extending between and supported on spaced ends of the body, sheaves on the shaft,

and. a cover on the body extending over the sheaves.

3. A crown block including a body of box-forin,

a shaft extending between and supported on spaced ends of the body, sheaves on the shaft,

and spacers extending between the other ends of the body and projecting between the sheaves.

4. A crown block including a unitary body of box-form, a shaft extending between and supported on spaced ends of the body, sheaves on the shaft, and spacers on'the bottom of the body projecting between the sheaves. I

5. A crown block including a body, a shaft carried by the body and having spaced grooves, sheaves on the portions of the shaft between the grooves, and spacers on the body projecting between the sheaves and cooperating with the grooves.

.6. A crown block including a body having 'spaced ends, a .shaft supported on said ends,

sheaves on the shaft, a bottom wall extending between and connected with the ends, and spacers on the bottom wall projecting upwardly between the sheaves.

7. A crown block including a unitary body comprising spaced ends, a wall part extending between and connecting the ends, and spaced vertical spacers connected with said wall part, a shaft supported on the ends, sheaves on the shaft spaced to have the spacers enter between them, a cover on the bodyextending over the sheaves, and parts on the cover projecting inwardly between the sheaves.

8. A crown block including a unitary body comprising spaced ends, a wall part extending between and connecting the ends, and spaced vertical spacers connected with said wall part, a shaft supported on the ends and having longitudinally spaced grooves receiving the upper portions of the spacers, and sheaves on the shaft-between said grooves. V

9. Ina crown block, an integral body comprising a bottom wall, spaced sides projecting from the bottom wall, spaced ends projecting from the bottom wall and adapted to carry a shaft, and

spacers extending between said sides and project; ,ing upwardly from the bottom wall to project between sheaves on said shaft.

10. A crown block including a body having bearing parts, a shaft supported by the parts,

sheaves on the shaft, and a cover on the body retaining the shaft on the bearing parts.

11. A crown block including a body having bearing parts, a shaft supported by the parts, sheaves on the shaft, a cover on the body extending over the sheaves and adapted to retain the shaft onthe bearing parts, and means removably securing thecover to the body.

ERWIN BURNS. HARRY P. WICKERSHAM. 

